The Dalkey Tidy Towns committee, although a small one, nonetheless shows a very positive attitude towards the competition as witnessed by its clear responses to the application form, neat map and common sense approach to the town's future development. A keen awareness of the town's heritage and its surroundings is apparent as well as a practical approach to identification of the problem areas and the means whereby to tackle same. Clear progress has been made in each category of the competition and congratulations are extended to all concerned.

Public and commercial premises throughout the town looked well cared for on adjudication day. Of particular note was Mac Donagh's in bright red and cream and the Guinea Pig in yellow and red with its abundant display of hanging baskets filled with petunias. The Queens Public house also looked very fresh in yellow. Dalkey has a fine heritage of stone buildings such as the Church, Dalkey Castle and Bullock Castle. There are a number of attractive and clever shop fronts such as Handworks with its use of mosaic and Photogenic with its superimposed photographs within the sandblasted glass shop front. One or two shop fronts were less well presented than others and a couple of plastic signs were still in evidence. Glynis Robins is another attractive shop front - many of these were nominated for shop front awards.

The landscaping projects throughout the town were generally to a high standard although the appearance of weeds and the broken timber benches at the viewing area to Dalkey Island on Coliemore Road looked unfortunate. The landscaped area near Sorrento Terrace on the same road was beautifully maintained. Good use was being made of the landscaped area opposite the AIB, however, the gable wall adjacent appeared to be quite flaky. The green space to the centre of St. Patrick's Square looked most attractive and the relatively new trees to the SuperValu car park were admired. Another attractive open space was noted adjacent to the car park of the Dart Station - some litter at the granite kerbstones to the footpath edge detracted somewhat from this good impression.

Dalkey is fortunate in this regard, situated as it is adjacent to the magnificent seashore habitat. Your encouragement of the breeding of indigenous terns is to be commended and the signal in relation to wildlife will be most informative for the visitor and local alike.

Litter control could have been to a higher standard on the day. A scattering was evident along Castle Street, in particular outside the AIB and the cottages leading to the SuperValu car park where papers were blowing in the light breeze. More litter was evident along Coliemore Road at its junction with Sorrento Terrace, by the Library, in the SuperValu car park and on the laneway leading to the Queen's car park and White's Villas. Litter and weeds were also apparent to the steps leading from St. Patrick's Cottages to the Dart station. Newspapers were strewn along Coliemore Road. However, street furniture such as litter bins were in good condition.

The town generally looked quite neat and ordered on adjudication day, however, weed control was a problem. Weeds were evident to the kerbsides at Carysfort Road and Coliemore Road - in particular by Queenstown Castle. Weeds were also evident in front of the Douglas Food Company. Graffiti was also a problem to ESB boxes to Coliemore Road and opposite Bullock Harbour to name but two. Hoarding is a practice which should be discouraged, there appear to be far too many hoardings along the approaches to the town giving an appearance of clutter.

Houses both in the town centre and along approach roads were generally well maintained. Coliemore Villas looked quite quaint and there were many fine houses which were well maintained along Coliemore Road giving glimpses through to the blue sea beyond. It was noted that Coliemore Apartments were underway on the old Hotel site. St. Patrick's Square was particularly admired having won the housing estate award in the competition in 1985 it was most pleasing to note that the standard has been maintained. Whites Villas were generally in good condition although some looked grubbier in comparison to the more freshly painted houses. An attractive terrace of houses on Lesley Avenue although some of the boundary walls needed attention.

Road works were noted at the town nameplate side on the Sandycove Road - the kerbsides were quite clear on this road and hedgerows had been cut back. This road affords a magnificent view to the backdrop of the quarry beyond Castle Street as one approaches the town. However, litter was noted at the entrance to the South Winds Estate entrance and at Ulverton Close. Weeds were apparent to the kerbsides at Carysfort Road. Weeds and newspaper were also noted strewn along Coliemore Road which gives a magnificent view to Dalkey Island with its ruined church and Martello tower beyond. The magnificent houses stepping up the rock face beyond Sorrento Terrace looked quite spectacular. The church car park was well maintained if a bit bare, perhaps a further landscaping project could be considered in this area. Some of the road signage throughout the town was not in particularly good condition. The pole to the Yield sign on Harbour Road beside Bullock Harbour was quite rusty and the Loreto Abbey sign at the bottom of Castle Street looks quite faded.

Dalkey has indeed maintained its village charm with a distinct gothic feel in its unique seaside location. Litter was a definite problem on a sunny but breezy adjudication day.

Dalkey as usual was most appealing by virtue of its unique ambience. However, litter was again evident but an even more significant problem was weeds - in car parks (railway station, by Coliemore Harbour.......) and at kerbsides in many areas. Particularly in residential areas it would seem relatively easy to organise a road by road control of weeds, litter and any other problem which might arise. You really must try to rid the town of advertising hoardings as they not only disfigure the building on which they are placed but also the streetscape. Tackle the problems and Dalkey could be truly magnificent. Your statement that "Dalkey has kept its unique village atmosphere amid suburbia" is most apt - a credit to all responsible over the years.